University of Houston Capstone Team 6 - Blog 8

   University of Houston Capstone Team 6 - Blog 8

During the work period of 3/23/24 to 4/13/24, Seal Team 6 made significant progress on the PSTD project. The team focused on troubleshooting the PSTD, addressing issues with the load cell, transmitter, heating band, and PID controller capabilities. Specifically: 

- Adjusted the voltage on the load cell and transmitter to optimize performance.

- Replace the type K thermocouple to resolve the inaccurate readings from the heating band temperatures. 

- Re-routed wires for the PID controller and relay to stabilize the system, preventing the relay from intermittently turning on and off when the power source was to one outlet, which caused erratic output readings. 

Additionally, the team enhanced the system's appearance and functionality by adding electrical wiring to connect the whole device to one main power source, creating a more integrated and cohesive system. The initial power source from the wall outlet, of 120VAC, is converted from AC to DC once power current is ran through the relay. At this point Seal Team 6 has completed 60% validation method development of Milestone 5. The team will be completed with Milestone 5 by 4/20/24 and complete the last milestone within the next two weeks. 

As you come to close of your project, use your current validation results to support a discussion of your project's overall success at this point and whether your team is satisfied with your achievements.  Provide at least 3 figures to demonstrate your current prototype's status and current validation results.

The figures below are the team's current prototype and validation results. 

Figure 1 - PSTD Testing Setup

Figure 2 - Force vs. Time Graph from Test Sample 70A at 200°F 
Figure 3 - Validation Result from SLB 

Figure 4 - SLB & UH Voltage vs. Load Data

There is not much left in terms of improvement for the prototype, the main focus on improvement consists of refining the voltage conversion in the Arduino, and the remaining validation experiment is the team's compliance validation utilizing strain gauges. Having spoken with SLB, they are pleased with progress on the device and have not suggested any new changes to be made in regards to design or electronics.

Team 6 current technical poster draft.



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